IF fans of Hoda Kotb get their way, the veteran anchor might just fall into the arms of Hollywood star Kevin Costner pretty soon.
But a body language expert claimed the Yellowstone heartthrob “blocked” his hand from touching the TV host during an interview, which suggested any hot dates are off.
Hoda, 59, and Kevin, 69, sat face-to-face in June on Today with Hoda and Jenna.
The Oscar-winning movie legend was promoting his latest film, Horizon, and he swept back his hair and rubbed his leg during the interview.
At the end, the father of five hugged Hoda — a moment caught on camera.
Fans commented on the pair’s interaction on Instagram, keen to see a relationship emerge.
“Kevin and Hoda should date! They look cute together,” one said.
“I noticed how he put his hands when he hugged her,” wrote another.
Body language expert Blanca Cobb claimed the actor seemed “nervous.”
She suggested Hoda mirrored some of Kevin’s gestures as they “vibed.”
“The rubbing and sweeping hair from both of them were not flirting motions,” Cobb told The U.S. Sun.
“What was interesting is that he rubbed the back of his head, and she swept her hair as soon as he did that.
“Kevin then touched his leg. This only happens when you are in sync with somebody.
If he had feelings for Hoda and wanted anything more, he would not have let anything be in his hand.
Blanca Cobb
“It does not necessarily mean it was flirtatious or there was an attraction. It meant these two were jiving and vibing.
“But it does not have to mean a romantic way, and Kevin carried on normally afterward.
“Even his hair sweeping was probably just down to nerves.”
According to Cobb, the final moments between the pair were the most revealing.
“When Hoda and Kevin hugged, his phone touched her more than his hand did,” she said.
“Kevin had his blocker there and ready.
“If he had feelings for Hoda and wanted anything more, he would not have let anything be in his hand or in the way.
Koda had to double-check her true feelings.
Blanca Cobb
“Kevin would have felt her hip completely with his hand instead of having this phone in the way.
“His facial expression was also friendly.
“It was only when Hoda watched the footage back on Wednesday with Jenna that she had to double-check her true feelings.”
Hoda and Savannah Guthrie, 52, also attended a Q&A session on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Tuesday.
Andy told the daytime TV host that fans were clamoring for her to date Kevin.
“How do you feel about viewers ‘shipping’ you and Kevin Costner after he appeared on ‘Today’ last month?” one viewer asked.
We could see almost a combination of fear and shock on her face.
Blanca Cobb
“And have the two of you connected since?” another said.
“The viewers want the two of you together,” Andy pushed.
“Well, if the viewers want it,” Hoda laughed.
Blanca said Hoda looked embarrassed during the Q&A on Tuesday.
“When Hoda was sitting with Andy Cohen, she was surprised by it all,” she said.
“We saw the furrow of the eyebrows.
“She had this look on her face, and we saw the whites of Hoda’s eyes.
“We could see almost a combination of fear and shock on her face.
“Hoda pulled away and leaned back in the chair.
“She was still having this conversation and appeared unable to process it.
“Hoda got playful with Andy’s audience because that was her job and skill.”
The Costner dating topic was raised again on Wednesday during a live segment on Today with Hoda and Jenna.
Jenna Bush Hager, 42, admitted that fans wanted a love match between her co-host and the actor.
“I didn’t know you and Kevin were shipping! I didn’t even know what shipping meant,” she said.
A clip of the moment in question was then played together with a romantic soundtrack.
Cobb claimed it was telling how Hoda watched the interview.
“During the segment with Jenna, Hoda pulled her body language in,” she said.
“This was just a sign of discomfort, so watching the clip, she felt uncomfortable with the conversation.
“Her neck looked stiff, and her shoulders were near her ears.
“She had her hands in front of her mouth at times and then on her chest.
“Hoda was embarrassed.”
Like Kevin, Hoda is a divorcée. She split with Burzis Kanga in 2008 after three years together.
She also split from Joel Schiffman in 2022, with whom she shares two daughters, Haley and Hope.
In May, she admitted that she was dating again.
Following an interview with pop star Jennifer Lopez, Hoda confirmed she had started dating in February.
“I just told her I have a date tonight, and that wasn’t supposed to be made public either,” she said.
Interestingly, according to People, Jenna set up Hoda’s first date with her friend.
Hoda was also seen in New York City in March with a mystery man.
Cobb claimed that Hoda was double-checking how she acted with Kevin when she revisited the clip.
“Hoda was also checking if there was anything flirtatious there,” she said.
“But she still felt embarrassed by it all.
“The most interesting gesture here was Hoda looking to see if she truly felt that there was no flirtatiousness on her part.
“Hoda did check her feelings and whether she felt anything for Kevin.”
Kevin has come through a second divorce in 2023 with Christine Baumgartner.
He was also married to Cindy Costner from 1978 to 1994.
Kevin recently said in an interview that he and Jewel are not dating, insisting that he was not in love.
“No, Jewel and I are friends,” he told Howard Stern in June.
“We’ve never gone out, ever. She’s special, and I don’t want these rumors to ruin our friendship because that’s what we have,” he added.
